Joyce Cheung survives fall to win women's 10km race at Hong Kong Marathon

Joyce Cheung Ting-yan survived a nasty fall that resulted in a battered and bruised right knee to win a rough and tumble women's 10km and then summed up the reason for her success in two simple words: "I'm tough."

The triathlete and sometime runner overcame a pile-up just after the start to win in 39 minutes and 32 seconds and credited her ability to overcome the pain that followed her fall to a rigorous training schedule.

"I was in a lot of pain after falling but I used it to motivate myself," said Cheung, who finished in front of Heidi Yu Wing-hay (39:42) and Kong Lai-ming (39:59).

"At the start I think a few runners became too excited and wanted to sprint into a good position. But they weren't aware of the other runners and I was one of the victims.

"But I had a lot of belief coming into the race and training for triathlons gives you a lot of belief in your body and yourself. I really wanted to give up today but I told myself to go for it."

The 24-year-old Baptist University physical education and recreation management student has been pounding the pavements of Hong Kong since 2004, when a coach suggested running was the weakest link in her triathlons. Well, it's not any more.